Reviews: Kushner, Ellen

Thomas the Rhymer —
Ellen Kushner

Ellen
Kushner’s 1990
Thomas
the Rhymer
is
a standalone reinterpretation of the
traditional
ballad.
It won both the World Fantasy Award and the Mythopoeic Award.

Gavin
and wife Meg are odd friends for someone like Thomas. Gavin and Meg
live quiet lives on their farm, while Thomas is a wandering minstrel
who has, or so he claims, played at court. At first, Gavin and Meg
offered the stranger shelter, as good people would. Later, he becomes
something of an adopted son to the childless couple.

There
are many reasons why the farm holds such an attraction for Thomas,
not least of which is young Elspeth, who lives on a nearby farm.